DESIREE Cheng was delighted to lead De La Salle in exacting sweet revenge against first-round tormentor University of Santo Tomas to claim solo second place in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament.
Contributing just seven points in their first-round encounter, the La Salle skipper reset her season high to 20 points to spell the biggest difference for the Lady Spikers in their 21-25, 25-23, 25-19, 26-24 win on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Kailangan namin bumawi, yung bawi na hindi lang puro salita kun'di yung bawi na may gawa,” Cheng said.
“Siguro mas gusto lang namin manalo today, mas gusto namin na gumanda yung kung nasaan kami ngayon, yung standing namin, and maglaro kami as one team,“ she added.
After the big win over UST, La Salle claimed the solo second place with an improved 7-3 win-loss record behind league leader and rival Ateneo de Manila (8-1).
Cheng said that the Lady Spikers were just eager to win the game for a good position in their Final Four bid.
“It's very important right now kasi pag natalo kami ngayon parang magkakaroon ng maraming tie, and then mahihirapan pa kaming bumangon again from a loss,” she said. “Kailangang-kailangan talaga namin manalo para hindi lang yung win, yung standing, kun'di pati yung confidence namin, hindi kami malugmok ng sobra-sobra.”
With four games remaining, Cheng insisted that they have to be more consistent as they face tougher challenges in the crucial part of the tournament even against the eliminated Adamson (1-9), which it takes on Wednesday at the Arena in San Juan City.
“Siguro kailangan namin maging consistent na. Ganito na yung gagalawin namin all throughout. Feeling ko kasi habang tumatagal mas lumalakas yung mga teams,” Cheng said.
“So kahit na ganoon na nothing to lose na yung ibang teams, kailangan pa rin naming respetuhin sila kasi baka mamaya sila pa yung makadali sa team namin.”
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